Hair styling comb



Sept. 14, 1965 A. DAVANZO 3,205,903

HAIR STYLING COMB Filed May 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ANTHONY D'AVANZO M 4, w m

his ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1965 v Nzo 3,205,903

HAIR STYLING COMB Filed May 3, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4 F/G. 6

INVENTOR. ANTHONY D'AVANZO giizmf, fl M *M his A TTORWEYS United States Patent 3,205,903 HAIR STYLING COMB Anthony DAvanzo, Fairfield, C0nn., assignor to Wilton Research and Development Corporation, Wilton, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 3, 1962, Ser. No.'1 92,252 4 Claims. (Cl. 132-139) This invention relates in general to hair styling combs and more particularly to combs with sets of curved and angled teeth.

It can be said that the purpose of combs generally is to guide the individual strands of hair into a predetermined position. This position may constitute the final arrangement of the particular style desired or it may only be a temporary cutting or shaping position. In any case the comb performs the guiding function in the hand of the stylist and the combs value as a guide will be determined by the ease and convenience with which it may be handled, by its efficiency in engaging and guiding all of the hair in any given area in accordance with the stylists desires, by the number and complexity of the various operations which it can assist, and finally by the time which it can save while achieving the results desired.

This invention now gives the hair-styling art a comb which accomplishes all of the above. These and the many other attendant advantages of this invention will be readily apparent when reading the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 is a view of the right side of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 shows the same embodiment as shown in FIGURE 1 when viewed from above;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the left side of the same embodiment as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGUREA is a view of the right side of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 shows the same embodiment as shown in FIGURE 4 when viewed from above;

FIGURE 6 is a view of the left side of the same embodiment as shown in FIGURE 4.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 wherein body portion '10 is generally composed of handle 12 which is tapered and is connected at one end to longitudinal base section 11. Base section 11 is centrally disposed between two sets of teeth 13 and 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the teeth in set 13 proceed downwardly from centrally disposed base 11 in such a manner that they make uniform acute angles with this supporting base. On the side of base 11 directly opposite from the teeth in set 13, a second set or row of teeth 14 emerges. The teeth 14 in this second set also make uniform acute angles with the centrally disposed base but proceed upwardly in a direction away from handle 12. Thus, the teeth in each set proceed in exactly opposite directions.

FIG. 2 shows this same embodiment of the comb when viewed from above. Teeth 13 and 14 emerge from opposite sides of centrally disposed base 11. In addition to proceeding downward, teeth 13 also gradually curve toward the left side of the comb through approximately an angle of 70. On the other hand teeth 14, in addition to proceeding upwardly, gradually curve toward the right side of the comb as they proceed from base 11 to the tip of the teeth, each tooth moving through an angle of approximately 70. Both teeth 13 and teeth 14 are tapered from a relatively wide cross-section at their base to a relatively narrow pointed section at their tips.

The right side of handle 12 may be marked with an R designated 15 and shown in FIG. 1 or any other dis- "ice tinguishing mark. Similarly the left side of handle 12 may be marked with an L designated 16 in FIG. 3. This designation of the right and the left sides of the comb is completely arbitrary but is convenient for the user and clarifies description.

Other embodiments of this invention are envisioned where the teeth of the comb are curved to various angles other than approximately 70.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 represent a specific second exemplary embodiment wherein the teeth of the comb are reversed from their position in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Here again handle 12 is tapered and connected to centrally disposed base 11 as shown in FIG. 4. Two sets of teeth 17 and 18 are positioned on opposite ides of base 11. However in this embodiment the teeth are curved in the opposite direction. What is designated the right side in FIG. 4 is actually the left side of the comb as viewed in FIG. 3 with the teeth 13 and 14 proceeding in the opposite direction. When viewed from the top these teeth are now turned in a clockwise direction.

This second embodiment has been designed specifically for the hair stylist who desires to hold and use the comb in the opposite hand.

Again a specific side may be marked R as shown in FIG. 4 and designated 19, while the opposite side may be marked with an L as shown in FIG. 6 and designated 20. These markings are again arbitrary and may be c0- ordinated with an alternate set of instructions for use of the second embodiment.

As discussed above teeth 17 proceed outwardly and I upwardly from the right side of base 11 as viewed in FIG. 4. These teeth 17 also curve through approximately an angle of 70 toward the forward right side of the comb and are tapered from a relatively wide cross-section near base 11 to a narrow tip. On the left side of FIG. 4 teeth 18 proceed downwardly and curve toward the rear left side of the handle 12 of comb 10. In this second embodiment the teeth 17 and 18 are so disposed that they proceed in exactly opposite directions, making the uniform, equal and opposite acute angle with base 11.

This invention presents structure which contains numerous advantages over the prior art. For an example of the added convenience now provided, the first embodiment of this comb may be held in the right hand with the left side against the palm and stroked through the 1 hair toward the user, generally following the direction in which the lower teeth 13 are pointing, without the handle making the usual awkward angle with the direction of motion. With this design, the holder may grasp the comb so that the handle forms an obtuse angle with his wrist, a position which is far more comfortable, requires much less effort and saves wasted motion.

The comb disclosed in this invention provides the hair stylist with many new techniques and uses. For example, when the comb is held in the above manner, a twist may be imparted to the hair, a feature which is most important in the field of womens hair styling. Looking closely at the lower teeth 13 when the comb is held in the above position, one can readily see that the hair, which is generally engaged near the root by the points of the teeth, will proceed to the left as it moves toward the base of the comb. This result in imparting a gradual left hand twist to the hair which has been stroked.

Furthermore, this invention promotes the efficiency of the hair stylist by equipping him now with time saving techniques. For example when the comb is moved upwardly through the hair in the back of the head, so as to ready the ends of these strands for cutting, teeth 14 engage the strands of hair at the roots, pulling tthem slightly away from the head. As the comb moves upward in this position the strands of hair are forced to proceed downwardly between the teeth toward the central 3 base 11 after being initially engaged. Since the teeth are pointed upward, and the comb is beingmoved in that direction, it is virtually impossible for the hair to escape from the comb once it is engaged between the teeth. This is a distinct advantage over straight combs where much of the hair will slip from the teeth thereby necessitating repeated engagement, stroking, and cutting. The time saved by using this comb is readily apparent.

Furthermore, with all of the hair in any one area raised as described above, the hair stylist can give an even cut with one stroke of the scissors. This provides an even texture over the area as each hair ends slightly above the other in a general cascading effect Where two or more strokes of the scissors are necessary there is always the danger that a subsequent cutting will impair the elfect of the first. These subsequent scissor strokes will, naturally, require more time.

A further unique feature of this comb lies in the fact that the hair stylist can easily follow the trim line around the head. With straight combs this is very difiicult for the amateur, and even requires particular care when done by a professional hair stylist. This comb helps to avoid a jagged series of linear cuts commonly found where straight combs are used. This operation is commonly referred to as the cutting of the nape hair along the back of the head. For proper styling it is necessary to carefully trim this area in a smooth and even line. When used in thi operation the lower teeth 13 of the comb are pointed toward the head along the nape line so as to allow the hair stylist to cut the lowermost strands of hair very closely. At the same time these teeth provide a guide which gradually curves out and away from the neck. Thus the hair above the nape line remains longer, and thus covers the nape line when it falls into final position. Meanwhile the back of the upper teeth 14 may be used to press the longer upper hair toward the head, thereby setting up the lower hair in the nape area and facilitating cutting.

This comb with its oppositely disposed curved teeth may also be used to twist the ends of the hair. Thus a downward twist or curl may be imparted to the hair above the forehead resulting in the desired effect commonly referred to as bangs. When inserted in long hair at a lower position to the rear of the head, a similar inward twist can be imparted to the hair resulting in the desired page-boy efiect. It is also possible to impart an outward twist away from the head to the lower ends of the hair. Naturally these same techniques may be used in other areas for creating any style desired.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of two specific embodiments has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A comb comprising a handle, a centrally disposed base connected to one end of said handle, and sets of teeth having inner ends and outer ends which. curve in the same rotative direction as said teeth proceed away from said base toward said outer ends, said teeth proceeding from opposite sides of said base, and said teeth'making acute angles with said base at the juncture of said inner r ends of each of said curved teeth.

2. A comb comprising a body portion, a handle connected to said body portion and two sets of curved teeth oppositely disposed on and making acute angles with said body portion, said two sets of curved teeth being curved in the same rotative direction around said body portion.

3. A comb comprising a body portion, a handle connected to said body portion and a plurality of sets of curved teeth disposed on and making acute angles with said body portion, said plurality of sets of curved teeth being curved in the same rotative direction around said body portion.

4. A comb comprising an elongated body portion, a handle connected to one end of said body portion, and two oppositely disposed rows of teeth attached to the side of said body portion which oppositely disposed teeth make generally equal but opposite acute angles with said body portion, the teeth in one row proceeding away from said handle and curving as said teeth proceed away from the centrally disposed body portion, the teeth in the other oppositely disposed row proceeding toward said handle and curving away from said centrally disposed body portion in the same rotative direction as the teeth in said one row when said body portion is held upright above said handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 735,643 8/03 Winn 132139 916,079 3/09 Wilcox 132-48 1,628,577 5/27 Burke 132-160 X 1,819,433 8/31 Miller 132--139 2,348,339 5/44 Golden 132158 X FOREIGN PATENTS 954,436 6/49 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 

3. A COMB COMPRISING A BODY PORTION, A HANDLE CONNECTED TO SAID BODY PORTION AND A PLURALITY OF SETS OF CURVED TEETH DISPOSED ON AND MAKING ACUTE ANGLES WITH SAID BODY PORTION, SAID PLURALITY OF SETS OF CURVED TEETH BEING CURVED IN THE SAME ROTATIVE DIRECTION AROUND SAID BODY PORTION. 